ANTISOCIAL behaviour orders have been issued to more than 20 teenagers as part of a police crackdown.

Operation Avalanche is underway in Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton-le-Spring in a bid to tackle troublemaking youths.

The initiative, spearheaded by Inspector Nick Gjorven, came in response to concerns raised by residents about the behaviour of some youngsters in the area.

Uniformed and plain-clothed cops, along with ward councillors and council anti-social behaviour officers, carry out dedicated patrols in problem areas to detect and disrupt crime, stop and search suspects and offer reassurance to residents.

Insp Gjorven said: “Operation Avalanche was about tackling the issues most important to the communities we serve.

“We’ve had some great results with 24 youths identified who have now been served with formal anti-social behaviour warnings, with letters sent home to their parents reaffirming this behaviour must change. Should they reoffend, those individuals and their parents will receive a home visit by the council’s anti-social behaviour team, housing providers and police.”